Norwich University Spanish Program Raises Awareness and Funds for Artists in Central America

Norwich University Spanish Program Raises Awareness and Funds for Artists in Central America

By Kaitlin E. Thomas
Lecturer of Spanish

Norwich University’s Spanish Program, in partnership with Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honors Society, sold hand-woven bracelets, or pulseras in Spanish, to empower the artists who make them in Nicaragua & Guatemala. The sale was organized in conjunction with the Pulsera Project, a Fair-Trade nonprofit organization that endows artisans in Central America through the sale of pulsera and other handwoven products.

Student and teacher volunteers raised funds to benefit fair trade jobs, worker rights, sustainability, and education, while learning about the culture, lives, and struggles of Central Americans. The Pulsera Project’s goal is to create a more just and colorful world by encouraging conscious consumerism and social enterprise. The Spanish Program was excited to host this organization for these reasons and more, namely to promote international solidarity across borders.

Spanish majors and minors Andrew Jumper’19, Marybeth Davis ’19, Daniela Tupy ’19, and Cullen Ferreira ’18, along with Spanish Professors Thomas and Sherriff, sold the bracelets from October 30 – November 3, 2017 in the Wise Campus Center. The event raised $595.00, all of which will be sent directly to the pulsera artists. Spanish Major Cullen Ferriera remarked on how “being involved with the selling of the pulseras during the Pulsera Project was a chance to be involved with other students in other majors. This gave us a chance to converse about issues within Nicaragua and ways we can contribute to helping other countries in need. This was a very well received program and all the students enjoyed looking at and seeing where each individual bracelet was made.” Professor Thomas agrees, and was impressed with the continued interest on behalf of the entire Norwich student body to visit the tables, discuss the initiative, and purchase a pulsera.

The Spanish program would like to give a hearty “gracias” to all of those who purchased a who supported this initiative, and does plan on hosting the Pulsera Project again next year.

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